| Review:
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Premiering in 1954, Father Knows Best was a sitcom
the beautifully summed up family life of the day. Starring
Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Elinor Donahue, Billy Gray, and
Laurin Chapin, the series ran until 1960, and over 200 episodes
total were produced. With a simplistic plot following the
family and its members through various situations and dilemmas,
it isn't hard to see why it was so well-received in its
day, and remains popular as a staple of classic television.
***
The series is dated, and it's hard to argue with that.
The family is largely stereotypical of the time, and the
plotlines used in this show were often used in other shows
of the day and subsequent years, but just the same, it's
still fun to watch. You know the cast and crew were doing
their job well, considering the show lasted as long as it
did. ***
This 4-disc set combines every episode from the show's
first season. Episode list is as follows: Bud Takes Up the
Dance, Lesson in Citizenship, The Motor Scooter, Football
Tickets, Live My Own Life, Grandpa Jim's Rejuvenation, Bud's
Encounter With the Law, Thanksgiving Day, Second Honeymoon,
Typical Father, Margaret Goes Dancing, The Christmas Story,
Sparrow in the Window, Boy's Week, A Friend of Old George's,
Bud the Snob, The Promised Playhouse, Jim the Farmer, Father
of the Year, The Mink Coat, The Matchmaker, Bud the Bridesmaid,
Proud Father, Father Delivers the Papers, No Partiality,
and Close Decision. ***
I do have a complaint with the set, though - some of
these episodes are the syndication edits. Most likely masters
couldn't be found for the original uncut versions, as is
usually the case when this happens. I only wish Shout! Factory
had bothered to include a disclaimer stating this. ---
Image And Sound:
This is a show that's over half a century old, and
sadly, it shows its age here. The image quality didn't undergo
any serious restoration, and it shows throughout the course
of the episodes. The quality is often inconsistent, and
the source material clearly hasn't survived in the best
of shape. I wish they'd done more with the image, as plenty
of TV shows from this era at least get SOME cleaning up.
The audio is in the originally-aired mono, and it too shows
its age - though all of the dialogue is audible.
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| Special
Features: |
Surprisingly, the disc does NOT disappoint in this department!
Shout! Factory goes above and beyond to present some fantastic
extras. There are plenty of interviews included on the disc
from cast and crew, who provide some interesting viewpoints
on their work. Additionally, home movies are included from
the family on which the show was ultimately based, and these
are especially interesting to watch. We also get some on-the-set
footage filmed in color, which gives a nice vintage look
at what went on when the cameras went off. But the extras
that will probably be of the most interest are the episodes
featured here. There's an episode of the series that was
created for the government, to promote bonds, as well as
an episode of Window on Main Street, Robert Young's short-lived,
post-Father Knows Best series. In the past I've been disappointed
with the lackluster extras Shout! Factory has included on
some of their sets - but they more than redeem themselves
- at least in this department.
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